Yesterday the team packed up camp at 11,200′ (3413m) and retraced their steps to Windy Corner. Once past Windy Corner they climbed into Genet Basin where Camp 2 resides. Sitting at the base of the granite face of the West Buttress, the headwall up to the 16,200′ (4937m) ridge, and some iconic ski lines that…
Yesterday the team donned their crampons and pulled out their ice axes. They started first up the mile long hill rising directly out of Camp 2 known as Motorcycle Hill. Topping out here they climbed up Squirrel Hill (known for the family of squirrels that resides here…. just kidding). Above Squirrel Hill is a larger…
Yesterday the team walked back to their cache site at 10,200′ (3108m) from Camp 2 at 11,200′ (3413m). They dug up their supplies from the cache the buried them in a few days ago, packed everything up, and walked but up to camp. This only takes a couple of hours or so, allowing the team…
Yesterday the team put in their first cache of the expedition. Caching is indicative of an expedition style of climbing (verses “Alpine Style”). It allows teams to split up their loads of supplies and gear and carry less whenever they are moving up the mountain. In addition, it gives them a chance to acclimatize better.…
Lead guide Jordan Cargill called in from Camp 1 (7,800′ 21377m) last night. The team started bright and early from Basecamp yesterday. As they left, they actually first descended 600′ down Heartbreak Hill from Basecamp. Basecamp is located on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier which, like a tributary of a river, flows downhill…
June 5 team reports “Perfect flying conditions and smooth landing on the Kahiltna. Following an afternoon of training we enjoyed our first team meal in the shadow of Mt.Hunter. Early to bed for an early start tomorrow. We will be on night patrol on the lower mountain to avoid the heat of the day. Everyone is in good spirits…
We would like to welcome our second June trip of the Denali season! We are thrilled to join the team on Denali and work alongside them as they toil up the frozen slopes of The Great One. This team will join many others as they climb Denali via the classic West Buttress Route which will climb over 13,000…